Our Response to COVID-19

The Department of the Interior continues to closely monitor and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are supporting a whole-of-government response to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep employees, visitors, partners and contractors safe.

Overview of Our Response

The lead agencies coordinating the federal response to COVID-19 are the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Interior’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) supports this effort by planning and implementing DOI’s response.

We are working together with federal, state, local, Tribal and territorial governments, public health officials, health care providers, researchers and the public to execute a whole-of-government response to the COVID-19 pandemic to protect the health and safety of the American people. We are using the latest science to guide our decision-making at every step.

We continue to work diligently to ensure employees are operating under the safest conditions to reduce the risk of exposure and prevent the further spread of COVID-19 during ongoing daily operations.

Our Workplace Safety Plan

In coordination with the White House, and in alignment with guidance from federal, state and local health authorities, DOI has developed a plan for returning to the workplace that addresses the safety and health of our workforce while ensuring the Interior mission continues uninterrupted.

We are implementing and enforcing mask-wearing and physical distancing requirements on all DOI-managed lands and in DOI facilities to halt the spread of COVID-19. Our goal is to prioritize the health and safety of the federal workforce while sustaining the mission of the Department.

The Department of the Interior COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan serves as a framework for our implementation of the President’s Executive Order, Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memo 21-15 COVID-19 Safe Federal Workplace: Agency Model Safety Principles.

Guidance from Our Bureaus and Offices

Recreating Responsibly

We encourage visitors to national parks, national wildlife refuges and other federally managed lands to follow CDC guidance to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Whether seeking wide-open spaces or exploring a historic urban neighborhood, visitors should always research the location to visit in advance to recreate responsibly and to ensure an enjoyable and safe experience.

To protect yourself and others from COVID-19, follow the CDC’s guidance on visiting parks and recreational facilities. Help us stop the spread by following the tips below.

  • Wear a mask. Visitors are required to wear face masks in federal buildings including visitor centers, historic structures and museums. When outdoors, face masks are required on DOI-managed lands when physical distance cannot be maintained. Before visiting, please check the park website to determine its operating status and please recreate responsibly. Masks are most essential in times when social distancing is difficult, including when hiking on trails that may be popular or crowded.
  • Stay home if you don’t feel well or have recently been sick. Follow guidance from local and state authorities, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you are sick with or tested positive for COVID-19, were recently close to someone with COVID-19, or just don’t feel well do not visit public areas including parks or recreational facilities. Follow the CDC’s recommended steps to take if you are sick.
  • Visit parks and recreation areas that are close to your home. Check with local offices for current conditions, including closures and changes in service, before visiting popular areas and for operational status updates. Please check with individual National Parks for specific details about operations. Find out if other services are open. If not, be sure to bring enough food, water, and other essential items with you for the duration of your trip.
  • Don’t visit crowded parks or campgrounds. Avoid heavily used or crowded trails, parking areas, and sites and seek dispersed recreation opportunities in your local area. Have a backup plan to avoid crowded high-use areas. If you find an area to be crowded, turn around. Where possible, we are making a few changes, including making some trail loops one-way.
  • Carefully consider the use of playgrounds, parks and facilities - and help children follow guidelines. Avoid unnecessary risks while recreating to prevent overwhelming medical facilities. Remember to know your limits, plan your trip and hike smart.
  • Stay at least 6 feet away from people you don’t live with. Be considerate of others enjoying the outdoors by giving them as much space as possible in parking lots, facilities, at trailheads and out on public lands.
  • Wash your hands often and don’t share items with people you don’t live with. Wash hands often, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
  • Bring supplies for sanitation with you and pack out your trash. Facilities, including bathrooms and visitor centers, may not be open or available for in-person contact.

Additional Resources

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